Insulated rail-joint



H. F. ROACH.

INSULATED RAII. JOINTx APPLICATION man FEB.5,1919.

1 ,$120,573. Patented Novi M19,

HARRY F. ROACH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

nvsULA'rnn RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patented Nov. 4., 1919.

Application filed February 5, 1919. Serial No. 275,222.

insulating elements or material used in insulated railijoints for insulating the rails from.

the side members of the joint` The main object ot my present invention is to provide a side insulating device iork insulated rail joints which is composed of a number of sections or separate pieces that can be arranged in various positions so as to bring fresh or unworn portions ot the same into service after other portions oit said sections have become worn, thus enabling the side insulating material ot the joint to be used for an exceedingly long period, and consequently, reducing the cost of' maintenance of the oint.

Another object is to providean insulating device of the character mentioned, which is so construct-ed that it will not be subjected to longitudinal` compression and elongation by the wave motion which passes through the joint under a rolling load.

Another object is to provide an insulated rail joint oit novel construction.

And still another object is to provide an insulated rail joint in which the end post is so 'formed that any material which collects between the abutting base Hanges of the rails or between the abutting wheel tread surfaces of the rails can be easily removed and with* ont liability of injuring the end post.

I have herein illustrated my present invention embodied in an insulated rail joint ot the type described in my prior U. S. .Patent No. 1.2582553, dated March 5, 1918, in which the side members of the joint vare so constructed that the rails fulcrum on the same at points in proximity to the center of the joint when a load passes over the joint, but I wish it to be understood that my broad idea is not limited to a rail joint of the particular type herein shown. l

Figure l of the drawings is a side eleva! tional View of an insulated rail joint equipped with side insulating elements and an end post constructed in accordance with my present invention. i

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of said joint, partly in cross section.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the end post.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one part or half of oner of the side insulating sections.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the joint with one ot the side members removed.; and

Fig. 6 is a. similar view, illustrating another way oi arranging the insulating material that insulates the side members of the joint from the rails.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the preferred form of my invention. A designates the two side members of an insulated rail joint that are arranged on opposite sides of the vertical webs of two abutting rails B, and C designates bolts or other suitable fastening devices that pass transversely through said side members and through the webs ot the rails. Insulating material is arranged between the rails and the side members A, and an end post D formed of suitable insulating` material is interposed between the ends ot the rails. The bolts of the joint are insul ated from the side members A by insulating devices E of conventional form. The joint is nrovided intermediate its ends with means l and 2 that are wedged between the undersides of the heads of the rails and the upper sides of the base ,flanges oit the rails, respectively, in proximity to the center ot the joint so as to forni substantially hinge connections between the rails and the center portion of the joint, the meansl and Q. of the joint herein shown consisting of portions on each of the side members A that extend a short distance on each side of the end post D, as shown in Fig. l. The end portions of each of said members A are spaced away from the heads and from the base flanges ot the rails. or rather from the portions ot the side insulating material that contact with the heads and base fianges of the rails so as to permit the rails B to deflect slightly and also move upwardly at the ends of the joint, under load. By constructing the side members oi the joint in this manner I obtain practically a hinge connection between the terminals ot the rails and the center portion of the joint without the. use of a. base'plate or supporting structure under the base iianges of the rails. When the joint is in service the load imposed on one rail by a wheel traveling over the same will be transmitted to the center portion of the joint through the end of the rail, thus bringing the side members A into shear resistance at the center of the joint. When the load passes from said rail onto the adjacent rail the load will be transmitted through the end portion of the latter to the center portions of the side members A in exactly the same manner as just described.

Instead of jjiroviding the joint with two side insulating' members that extend unbrokenly throughout the length oi the joint, on opposite sides of the rails, I insulate the side members A of the joint from the rails by insulating devices or elements, each of which is composed of a number of sections or sepa-rate parts which are capable of being arranged in various positions so as to brine' fresh or uiiworn )ortions of theI same into service after other portions of said sections or parts have become worn. In the preferred form of my invention, as herein shown, each side member A of the joint is insulated from the rails by two insulating sections F and F that are separated from each other by al vertical space or division :c preferably located at the eXact center of the joint. One desirable feature of side insulating devices or elements of the character just referred to is that they will not be subjected to longitudinal compression and eloi'igation by the wave motion which passes through the joint under a rolling load, it being possible for the rails to fulcruin on the side members of the joint without placing` the side insulatingl material of the joint under tension or causing it to buckle, as might occur if the side insulating material extended uiibrolenly across the joint between the terminals of the rails.

Another desirable feature of such insulating devices is that they can be arranged iii various positions so as to bring fresh or unused portions of theI saine into service after other portions ofsaid elements have become worn. For example, when the insu lating sections F and F are arranged in the manner shown in F 5, practically all of the wear is on the laterally-projecting portions 3 at the upper edges of the sections F and F which are interposed between the heads of the rails and the rail bearing surfaces i on the side members 1t is true, of course. that the laterally-projecting portions #L at the lower edges of the insulating sections F and F, which are interposed between the base flanges of the rails and the rail engaging portions 2 on the side members A., receive some wear, but the wear on said portions i is negligible. In view of the fact that the end portions of the side A of the joint.

members rt. are spaced away from the heads and frein the base franges of the rails, the laterally-projectingportions and G at the outer ends of the insidatingsections F and F receive no wear whatever, when the insulating sections F and F are arranged in the manner shown in Fig. After the portions 3 of the sections F and F become excessivelj-,f worn said ser tions .F and F are transposed so as to bring the portions 5 on said sections into operative position, namely, between the heads of the rails and the rail engaging portions l on the side members A. lWhen said portions become wori'i the sections F and F are turned upside down so as to bring the portions on said sections into service. After said portions G have become worn the sections F and F are trans posed so as to. bring the portions li into service. After the four corner portions of each of the sections F and F have become worn to' the point where they cannot be used further, one of said sections, for example, the section F ,A is removed and the other section` F is arranged at the center of the oint, asshownin Fig. 6, theV end portions of the side members of the joint being insulated fromy the rails by short, flat pieces of insulating material G that are interposed between the side members fr and the webs of the rails. This brings the center portion of the section F into service, and after the portion at the upper edge of said section has become worn, said section is turned upside down so as to bring` the portion 8' at the lower edge of said section' into service. After the portion 8 luis become worn, the insulating section F is removed fi'on'i the joint and the other insulating sect-ion F substituted therefor, the insulating section F being arranged in two different positions so as to utilize 'the laterally-projecting portions at the center of said section.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by dividing the side insulating i'naterial of the joint into sections in the manner above de scribed I am able to arrange said material in eight different positions so as to bring fresh or unworn portions of the material into service after other portions of said material have become worn, thereby enabling the oint to be maintained in operative condition. at an exceedingly low cost.

I also prefer to divide each of the insulating sections F and F into two parts b v a horizontal division y, as shown in Fig.V 5, so as to malte it possible to remove or replace the side .insulating material of the joint without withdrawing the bolts C from the rails or from the side members of the jointv` this being aceoniplished by simply loosening the nuts on the bolts si fliciently to permit the side members A to be moved laterally away from the rails and then slipping the horizontally-divided insulating sections F CIK and F into or ont of operative position. .his is a very desirable feature, as it makes it possible to replace or adjust the side insulating mate l of the joint on hot days, when the ra. have expanded to such a degree that it would be inipossible to replace the bolts of the joint after they had been complete" withdrawn from the rails, due to the fact that the expansion of the rails caused them to move longitudinally of the side rmembers of the joint as soon as the bolts of the joint were withdrawn from the rails.

The holes in the side insulating sections F and F through which the bolts of the joint pass preferably consist of elongated openings or slots s, which are so positioned that when both of the sections F and F are in use, as shown in Fig. 5, the center bolts of the joint will bear against the end walls of the slots through which they pass, and thus prevent the sections F and F from moving outwardly or longitudinally of the joint away from the center of the joint. l/Vhen only one of said sections is in use, as shown `in Fig. 6, both of the center bolts of the joint pass through the slots s in said section and bear against the inner ends of said slots, thereby preventing said section from moving longitudinally of the joint in either direction.

The end post D of the joint is provided with a head portion 9, as shown in Fig. 3, that is arranged between the abutting heads of the rails, and a depending shank portion 10 that is arranged between the abutting webs of the rails. The upper edge of the head portion 0 terminates below the tread surfaces of the rails and the lower end of the shank portion l() of said end post terminates above the base flanges of the rails, as shown in Fig. l, said end post being maintained in the position mentioned by reason of the engagement of the head portion 9 with the side insulating material over which said head portion projects, as shown in Fig. 2. This is a very desirable feature, as it enables the skin or top portion of the tread surfaces of the rails that flows into the space between the terminals of the rails to be removed easily without danger of injuring the end post; it eliminatesthe possibility of the end post being subjected to a downward shock or thrust from a passing wheel, and thus causing injury to the f portions of the side insulating material that lie under the head portion of the end post and it eliminates pockets between the base lianges of the abutting rails in which material might collect, and thus produce a short circuit. in other words, the end post of my improved joint is so formed that the upper and lower ends of the same terminate far enough below the tread surfaces of the rails and above the base flanges of the rails to permit any material which collects between the abutting tread surfaces of the rails to be removed without liability of injuring the end post and also provides an open space between the abutting base flanges of the rails that is open from one end to the other and which can be easily kept clean by running an instrument transversely of the joint between the base iianges of the abutting rails.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An insulating device adapted to be arranged between the rails and one of the side members of an insulated rail joint and provided with portions which insulate said entire side inen'iber from the rails, said device being provided with means which prevents said device from being placed under tension when a'load passes over the joint.

2.' An insulating device adapted to be arranged between the rails and one of the side members of an insulated rail joint and provided with portions which insulate said entire silde member from the rails, said device having a vertical division or space at the center `of the joint that prevents said device from being subjected to strains when the rails of the joint move vertically under load. i

3. An insulatinor device for insulating one of the side menmers of an insulated rail joint from'the rails, said device being composed of a plurality of sections, each of which is adapted to be arranged in various positions so as to bring fresh or nnworn surfaces of the same into service after other portions of said section have become worn. il. An insulating element for insulated rail joints provided with portions that are adapted to be arranged between one of the side members of the joint and the heads and base flanges of the rails, said insulating element comprising ya plurality of sections which can be transposed and also turned upside down so as to bring different portions of theI saine into position to cooperate with the heads of the rails after other portions of said sections have become excessively worn.

5. An insulating means for insulated rail joints adapted to be arranged between one of the members of the joint and the heads of the rails and comprising separate and dis- Jrinct portions which are so constructed that .they can be transposed or interchan ged so as to bring fresh or unworn parts of the same into position to coperate with the heads of the rails after other parts of said portions have become worn. I

6. An insulating means for insulated rail joints adapted to be arranged between one of the members of the joint and the base flanges of the rails and comprising independent portions which are so constructed llO that they can be transposed or interchangedV so to bring fresh or unworn parts of the same into position to cooperate v-Jitli the base flanges olf the rails after other parts of said portions have become worn.

7. ein Vinsulating element for insulated rail joints` composed of a plurality of sections adapted to be arranged between the rails and one of' the side members of the joint and provided with horizontally-disposed, elongated slot-s whose inner ends cooperate with the center bolts of the oint to retain said sections in proper position.

S. rin insulating device for insulating the side member of' an insulated rail joint from the rails, composed of a plurality of sections, each of which is adapted to be arranged in various positions so as to bring` fresh or unworn portions of same into service after other portions of said section have become worn, said device. being provided with openings for the bolts of the joint which are of such shape and arrangement that some of the bolts always serve as a means to prevent said sections from moving into an improper position.

9. An insulating element for insulated rail joints adapted to be arranged between one of the side members of the joint and the heads and base flanges of the rails and composed ot a plurality of sections of the same shape and dimensions, divided vertically intermediate the ends of the joint and adapted to be transposed and also turned upsidedown so as to bring different portions of the same into proper position to coperate with the heads of the rails.

10. An insulating` device Ltor insulating the side member of an insulated joint from the rails, composed of' two sections that contact with the beans and base flanges of the rails and which are separated from each other by a substantially vertically-disposed space or division at the center of the joint, each of said sections being provided with means that enables said section to be removed or replaced without withdrawing the bolts of the joint from the side members or from the rails.

11. An insulating device for insulated rail joints composed of a plurality of sections, divided or separated from each other at a point or points intermediate the ends of the joint and capable of being arranged in various positions between the rails and one of the side members of the joint so as to bring fresh or unworn portions of the same into service after other portions of said sections have become worn, each of said independent sections being provided with means that enables said section to be removed or replaced without withdrawing the bolts of the oint.

12. An end post for insulated rail joints formed of insulating material and constructed in such a manner that when it is arranged in operative position between the terminals of abutting rails of the size for which it is designed the upper end of said post will be positioned far enough below the tread surfaces of the rails to prevent a passing' wheel from exerting downward pressure on said end post and to permit projections on the terminals of the rails to be removed without liability of injuring the end post.

13. An insulating end post for insulated rail joints that is adapted to be arranged between the terminals of the abutting rails, said end post being formed of insulating material and having a head portion whose upper edge terminates below the tread surfaces of the rails, thereby preventing said end post from being subjected to a vertical shock or thrust when a wheel passes over the joint.

14. An insulating end post for insulated rail joints adapted to be arranged between the terminals of the abutting rails and provided with a head portion and a depending shank portion, the upper edge of said head portion terminating below the tread surfaces of the rails and the lower end of said shank portion terminating above the base flanges of the rails.

15. An insulated rail joint, comprising members that cooperate with the heads and the base flanges of the rails to torni substantially hinge connections between the rails and the center portion of the joint, and insulating material for insulating said members from the rails, said insulating material being constructed in such a manner that the rails can fulcrum or rock vertically on said members without placing any portion of said insulating material under tension.

1G. An insulated rail joint, comprising members that cooperate with the heads and the base flanges of the rails to form substantially hinge connections between the rails and the center portion of the joint, and insulating material arranged between said members and the heads and base flanges of the rails and provided with vertical divisions or spaces located at the center of the joint, thereby permitting the rails to rock vertically without creating strains in any portion of said insulating material.

17. An insulated rail joint, comprising side members arranged on opposite sides of the rails and having their end portions spaced away from the heads and the base flanges ot the rails, means located in proximity to the center of the joint that cooperates with the heads and the base flanges of the rails to support the terminal portions of the rails, and insulating material arranged between the heads and base flanges of the rails and the means that supports the terminal portions of the rails and provided with means which prevents said insulating material from being subjected to strains when the rails rock or move vertically under load.

18. An insulated rail joint, comprising side members arranged on opposite sides of the rails and having their end portions spaced away from the heads and the base flanges of the rails, means located in proximity to the center of the oint that cooperates with the heads and the base flanges of the rails to support k the terminal portions of the rails, and insulating material arranged between the heads and base flanges of the rails and the rail supporting means and composed of a plurality of sections that are adapted to be arranged in various positions so as to bring fresh or unworn portions of the saine into service after other portions of said insulating sections have become worn.

n 19. An insulating rail joint, comprising side members arranged on opposite sides of the rails and having their end portions spaced away from the heads and the base flanges of the rails, means located in proximity to the center of the joint that co operates with the heads and the base flanges of the rails to support the terminal portions of the rails, and insulating material an ranged between therails and said side meinbers and having portions that lie between the rail supporting means and the heads and base flanges of the rails, said insulating material comprising` a plurality of sections that are adapted to be transposed and also turned upside down so as to bring different portions of the same into position to cooperate with the heads of the rails after other portions of said insulating sections have become excessively worn.

20. An insulated rail joint, comprising side members arranged on opposite sides of the rails and having their end portions spaced away from the heads and the base flanges of the rails, means combined with said members that cooperates with the heads and the base :flanges of the rails :in j iroxiinity to the center of the joint to` form bearing surfaces on which the rails fulcrum under load, and a plurality of insulating sections interposed between said bearing surfaces and the heads and base flanges of the rails and so constructed that they can be arranged in various positions so as to bring fresh or unworn portions of same into service after other portions of said sections have become worn.

2l. An insulated rail joint, comprising side members arranged on opposite sides of the rails and having their end portions spaced away from the heads and the base flanges of the rails, means combined with said members that cooperates with the heads and the base flanges of the rails in proxiinity to the center of the joint to form bearing surfaces on which the rails fulcrum under load, and a plurality of adjustable insulating sections for insu`ating the webs of the rails from said side members and the heads and base flanges of the rails from said bea-ring surfaces and constructed in such a man; ner that each of said sections can be ranged in a number of different positions so as to bring fresh or unworn portions of sa i, into service, said insulating sections lrv .i openings for the boltsof the jointY wh of such shape and arrangement that c the bolts always serve as a means to prevent said insulating sections from inou' inio an improper position.

An insulated rail joint, comprising side members arranged on opposite sides of the rails and having their end portions spaced. away from the heads and base Aflanges of the rails, means combined with said members that cooperates with the heads and the base flanges of the rails in proximity to the center of the joint to forni bearing' surfaces on which the rails fnlcrum under load, and insulating sections arranged on opposite sides of the rails and provided 'with portions that lie between said bearing surfaces and the heads and the base flanges of the rails, said sections having horizontally-dis posed, elongated slots whose inner ends bear against the center bolts of the joint.

An insulated rail joint, comprising side members arranged on opposite sides of the rails, a pair of insulating sections arranged between the rails and each. side member of the joint and each provided with integrally connected portions that cooperate with the heads and base flanges of the rails, said insulating sections being separated by a space or division located at the center of the joint, and means for enabling each of said insulating sections to be removed or re placed without withdrawing the bolts of the joint from the side members or from the rails. Y

An insulated rail joint, comprising side members arranged on opposite sides of the rails with their end bortions spaced away from the heads and base fh nges of the rails, means combined with said members that cooperates with the heads and base flanges of the rails in proximity to the center of the joint to form bearing surfaces on which the rails can fulcrum under load, a plurality of adjustable insulating sections for insulating the webs of the rails from said side members and the heads and base flanges of the rails from said bearing surn faces and constructed in such a manner that each of said sections can be arranged in a number of different positions so as to bring fresh or unworn portions of same into service, and means for enabling s'aid insulating sections to be removed or replaced without withdrawing the bolts of the joint.

25. An insulated rail joint, comprising side members arranged on opposite sides of' lll) the rails, and insulating material arranged between each of said side menrbers and the rails and divided into two main sections by a vertical space or division at the center of the joint, eaeh of said main sections beingcomposed of two parts that coperate with the heads and base flanges of the rails and which are separated from each other by a iorizontal division or space that extends longitudinally of the joint in proximity to the bol ts of the oint.

26. An insulated rail joint, comprising' side members arranged on opposite sides of the joint, insulatingmaterial arranged between said members and the rails, and an insulating' end post aranged between the ends of the abutting rails and provided with a l' ead portion whose upper edge terminates below the tread surfaces of the rails and a depending shank portion whose lower end terminates above the base flanges 01": the rails.

27. A side insulating section for insulated rail joints having a vertical web provided at its upper and lower edges with laterallyg projecting' portions, said vertical web being equipped with two elongated slots for the bolts of the joint which are so located that said section can be arranged at either endof the joint, turned upside down or arranged at the center of the joint.

28. in insulated rail joint, comprising side members arranged on oppositesides of the rails, insulating' material arranged between the rails and said side members and provided with laterally-projecting portions that lie between said side members and the heads of the rails, and an insulating end post arranged between the ends of the rails and provided with a head that projects laterally over the portions of the side insulatina` material that contact with the heads of the rails, the upper edge or' the head of said end post terminating below the tread surfaces of the rails.

HARRY F. ROACH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

